Murder on Mt. McKinley

Once again Scott Devlon is thrust into the middle of a murder mystery atop one of the world’s Seven Summits. The chief executives of two rival oil companies attempting to construct a new Alaska pipeline opt to merge their efforts, and reap billions in profits. During the process, in celebration, they decide to climb Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. What they don’t expect are deaths. But they have enemies at every turn and one by one, that’s what begins to happen. Can they all be accidents? Competitors, Russians, Native American cultists, and environmental extremists, all have motives. But would any of them stoop to murder to stop the development of another oil field in Alaska? Or are the executives knocking each other off? As the climbing team descends from the summit engulfed by a violent lightning storm it becomes clear that murder is exactly what is occurring. Murder on Mt. McKinley is the third in the exciting Summit Murder Mystery series. While each book stands alone each will provide a deeper connection with the characters and story lines. Every book is set against an exotic backdrop amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth. Be sure to read all seven of the Summit Murder Mysteries: Murder on Everest, Murder on Elbrus, Murder on Mt. McKinley, Murder on Puncak Jaya, Murder on

Excerpt:

The very ease with which the climb was perceived led to so many deaths as was the case with Elbrus. In the 11 days since we’ve been at this, the trek had been across wide plains of fresh snow or along narrow ridges, neither of which was more than moderately inclined. But now we were at the end and the route was beginning to rise sharply. With the cloud and cold that numbed gloved hands, we’d reached the most dangerous time.

From my experience most of those on the team would not understand that. They were tired, even exhausted. The goal was all but in sight. The tendency was to banish any negative thoughts as well as genuine concerns from your mind and press on. None of them would be considering the reality that once we reached the summit we were only half done. We still had to get down alive and uninjured.

Stern was making good time, too good, and I found it difficult to catch up with him. The route was taking us along a traverse. The mountain rose sharply to my right, very steeply down the glacier to my left. Such places can be quite treacherous. There was nowhere I could reach and talk to him safely so I decided to wait until after the next point when I need to disconnect and reconnect.

That spot was about 10 feet away when Stern was suddenly engulfed in a sea of white and vanished. Without warning the falling while enveloped me, shutting out the light as it swept me away. There was no time to shout, no time to react. I found myself plunging into thin air, trapped in the deadly embrace of an avalanche.